INNOVATE INDIANA

Exhibit B-4
Project Ownership, Partners & Experience
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT | SECTION 19
Project #27 Apex Climbing and Fitness
46
Project Information
Project Contact
Michael Title: Apex L Dickens Climbing and Fitness
Description: As fitness enthusiasts and climbers for a combined 25+ years, we know that exercise can be
fun, social, and accessible, yet Goshen currently has no year-round family-oriented fitness facility. The
South Bend/Mishawaka areas have a small number of year-round family-oriented entertainment/fitness
businesses, but none offering the diversity that climbing and climbing-related activities provide. Apex
Climbing and Fitness strives to be the first full-featured indoor climbing facilities in the Michiana area,
providing bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing as core offerings. Over time we anticipate providing
climbing-related activities such as a ropes challenge course, parkour, ninja warrior, Crossfit, basic cardio
Project Description equipment, massage, yoga, after school programs, day camps for kids, and special events such as
birthday parties and sleepovers. Once Apex is financed, we will form a non-profit foundation to provide
sliding scale entry for low income families, and, especially, after-school and day camps for low income
children. Our Foundation will apply for grants both nationally and locally, and use all grant money to allow
those who need assistance most access to our world-class facilities. Our facilities will be communityoriented
and family-oriented via our climbing options and numerous climbing-related offerings, providing
year-round health, fitness, and entertainment options for all ages. Apex Climbing and Fitness will bring
people
Target locations
together to
for
achieve
Apex Climbing
new heights.
and Fitness facilities are in the South Bend/Mishawaka area for St.
Joseph County and in the Goshen area for Elkhart County. We are working with the City of Goshen
Redevelopment Commission as well as local real estate agents to identify and acquire property, and then
build-to-suit or lease and renovate a building that is of the dimensions necessary for a climbing facility:
typically 40’-50’ contiguous peak vertical space height over a 100’x50’ floor footprint, with another
Project Location
100’x50’ floor footprint for offices, bathrooms, and rooms for climbing-related activities. Although we value
reusing extant buildings, we recognize that it is unlikely that we will find such buildings available in
desirable locations within either target area, and hence that we’re more likely to acquire or lease property
and build-to-suit.
Project Category
Quality of place
Industry Alignment Recreation and Fitness
Apex Climbing is currently in discussions with a variety of climbing related businesses and individuals for
both partnerships and sponsorships. Most relevant for this application are: (1) Body Evolution Fitness and
Nutrition (South Bend, Indiana): A small, locally owned, St. Joseph County fitness oriented company with
management experience, for a partnership where we will own the facility and they will manage it. (2) Evo
Rock + Fitness (Concord, New Hampshire): A nationally recognized climbing facility owner and developer,
for franchising and investment partnerships. (3) Climb Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo, Michigan): The nearest
Project Partners
sizeable climbing gym to Northern Indiana, for sponsorship, investment, and mentoring. (4) MetroRock
Climbing Centers (various locations in New England): A successful, established, and expanding climbing
facility chain, for mentoring and investment. (5) City of Goshen Redevelopment Commission: For
assistance obtaining property for our Goshen facility. Because indoor rock climbing is a new market to our
part of the Michiana area, we are intentionally reaching out to both locally and nationally recognized
businesses to gain diversity of franchising, partnerships, sponsorships, and investment opportunities.
The Apex Climbing team has experience with local projects only -- managing a successful consulting
business, and starting and running an Ultimate Frisbee League -- but plenty of experience and contacts in
the climbing industry. Our team has been climbing for 25+ years in various areas of the United States,
Project Experience and we have an investor in various climbing facilities with insider information on finances and business
operations. That said, by franchising with Evo Rock + Fitness, we gain access to a group with extensive
experience in both developing and managing climbing facilities around the United States including one on
the south side of Indianapolis.
Project Start Date 6/1/2015
Project End Date 5/31/2017
Start within 12 months? Yes
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE REGION ENGAGED CURRENT TRENDS
STATE OF THE REGION
& QUALITY OF PLACE
VISION & STRATEGY PROJECTS
STAKEHOLDERS, EXECUTION
& STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Project Timeline
27_EC_Apex Climbing and Fitness
REGIONALCITIESOFNORTHERNINDIANA.ORG |
291
BENCHMARKING
& MEASUREMENT
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT